Flesh-eating disease or Necrotizing Fasciitis is a serious infection with a high percentage of death. There are around 650 cases of Necrotizing Fasciitis in the US every year at up to 30% of those cases end in death. This chart from nyrequirements.com breaks down the microbes that cause Necrotizing Fasciitis and which type of bacteria is the deadliest. It may be a shock for you to find out that the most common microbe in Necrotic-Fasciitis-Related deaths comes from Streptococcal infection. This bacterium causes strep throat, a common virus spread throughout childhood that easily infects others. When this bacterium affects those with compromised immune systems and people 80 years and older it can turn into a deadly infection if it penetrates the body. In 48% of cases of death from Necrotizing Fasciitis, Streptococcal infection was to blame.
Staphylococcus Aureus was the second most common cause of flesh-eating disease. MRSA is the deadliest form of Staph infection. There are 4 types of Necrotizing Fasciitis and each has a mortality rate starting at 20%. Read more to find out how these microbes enter the body.
